State mandated plan for Torrington, focuses on furthering education, developing a career path

By Nikki Treleaven

Saturday, January 5, 2013

Torrington >> Students in the Torrington school district will now have the opportunity to explore career opportunities in-depth, as part of a new state-mandated plan that focuses on furthering a student's education and developing a career path. The School Improvement Subcommittee, established by the Board of Education, discussed implementing the plan on Wednesday night.

The Student Success Plan (SSP) or Secondary Program Opportunities, which started this year, is designed to help students plan for their future and figure out what they want to be when they grow up. The new plan takes effect when a student enters sixth grade and continues until his or her high school graduation day. Torrington school officials developed the SSP using state guidelines during the 2011-12 school year, and put it in place for 2012-13.

"It's a structured opportunity at a younger age to explore a variety of careers," Assistant Superintendent Sue Domanico said, during her presentation to the board on Wednesday, during the subcommittee meeting.

Domanico said the SSP is made up of three core components -- academic development, career development and social, emotional and physical development.

According to the state Department of Education website, the academic plan allows a student to choose courses based on interests and a career of interest, to encourage students to want to learn and develop the knowledge and skills needed to be successful throughout high school as well as a chosen career field.

The academic component of the SSP also involves a "Capstone" project that demonstrates what the student has learned during his or her school career, that is conducted in his or her senior year. The Capstone project could be any topic the student chooses that shows their accomplishments, such as a portfolio, a performance or demonstration.

"We're making a conscientious effort to help children dream of what they might want to be," Superintendent Cheryl Kloczko said.

The second component, career development, allows students to explore their interests through elective courses and activities as well as internships to help gain "real world" experience, according to the state Department of Education website. The career development component also helps students prepare for college.

"Colleges want students to have 'real world' experience ... not only have knowledge but apply it," said Kloczko.

However, Kloczko said, internships can be available for students who are not interested in attending college but want to pursue a trade.

"Community partners are interested in working with students -- as part of work force development," she said. "We are encouraging guidance counselors to do an exit survey (with graduating seniors to find out what their plans are)."

The last component, social, emotional and physical development, gives students the opportunity to fully engage themselves in school as well as take necessary risks for the best academic performance, the state's website explains. In other words, if a student is doing well in school, he or she will be happier and more confident.

Kloczko and Domanico said SSP's give students more choices, plans and certainty.

When a student enters the program in sixth grade they are assigned to a faculty advisor as well as in the high school, according to Domanico. In the high school, students are assigned to a small homeroom with a chosen adult who can get to know high school students, she said.

Also, Domanico said, once a month high school students have an extended homeroom period that allows them to explore their interests with a teacher with whom they can identify.

While in middle school, students participate in mentoring activities where they learn life skills and organizational skills, Domanico said. Teachers also teach lessons that help develop interests, skills and independence, she said.

The high school students also use a computer program called "Career Cruising" where each student has an account where they can further search their career interests and complete career surveys. The career surveys help a student decide whether a career is right for them.

For seniors who haven't gone through the whole SSP process, Domanico said they are able to utilize "Career Cruising" with tools to help with the college search process.

"The SSP is about helping students plan for the future. Public schools are investing in students for when they become taxpayers and citizens," Kloczko said.